TORONTO (MAY 6, 2013) – The Enactus team at the University of Windsor looked at their city ravaged by job loss as a result of the recession and the collapse of the auto sector, and began CityThrive. CityThrive is a 12 week program that teaches people on social assistance the financial tools needed to operate their own businesses.
The program boasts a 92% pass rate and it has empowered four individuals who, as a result of having taken the program, are no longer on social assistance. These outcomes were rewarded on Monday, May 6th at the 2013 Enactus Canada National Exposition, where the Enactus Windsor team took home the title of BDC Entrepreneurs First! Project Fund Champion.
“BDC is proud to have sponsored CityThrive’s participation in the Enactus competition and contribute to the development of Canada’s next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs,” says Jeff Crowe, Business Centre Manager at BDC Winsdor. “The CityThrive project is more than a simple academic exercise as the service presented is real and has a direct, measurable impact on the local community.”
The BDC Entrepreneurs First! Project Fund, launched in 2011, is designed to empower Enactus teams with the skills and resources to make a meaningful difference in their communities through entrepreneurship.
“Enactus students are transforming lives and shaping a better world through programs like CityThrive, and these opportunities wouldn’t exist without the support of corporate partners like BDC,” said Nicole Almond, president of Enactus Canada. “The University of Windsor has much to be proud of today and we are pleased to share with Canada the fabulous work they are doing in their local community.”
Enactus Windsor is a group of dedicated, hard-working students, working together towards one goal, to make Windsor a better place through entrepreneurship.
-30-
ABOUT ENACTUS CANADA: Enactus Canada is a community of student, academic and business leaders enabling progress through entrepreneurial action. Guided by academic advisors and business experts, more than 2,300 student leaders create and implement over 350 community empowerment projects and business ventures every year in communities coast to coast. As a global network of 39 countries, Enactus uses the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world. For more information, visit enactus.ca.
ABOUT BDC: Canada’s business development bank, BDC puts entrepreneurs first. With almost 2,000 employees and more than 100 business centres across the country, BDC offers financing, subordinate financing, venture capital, securitization and consulting services to more than 28,000 small and medium-sized companies. Their success is vital to Canada’s economic prosperity. www.bdc.ca
Media inquiries:
Jody Lundrigan Director, Communications Enactus Canada E: jody@enactus.ca P: 416.304.1566 x 222 M: 416.346.0131Maria Constantinescu Senior Advisor, Public Relations Business Development Bank of Canada E: maria.constantinescu@bdc.ca P: 514.496.7146